Severstal North America announces successful start-up of new pickle line

Severstal North America Announces Successful Start-Up of New Pickle Line Tandem Cold Mill in Dearborn, Michigan.

Severstal North America, a U.S.-based steel producer specializing in the full range of the high quality, light, flat-rolled products, today announced the successful launch of a new, five-stand, six-high, 72" wide coupled pickle line tandem cold mill (PLTCM) at its plant in Dearborn, Michigan. The new $450-million state-of-the-art facility is expected to ramp up to full capacity of 1.9 million metric tons within six months.

Sergei Kuznetsov, Chief Executive Officer, Severstal North America, said, “The launch of our new cold rolling complex is a key component in our goal of becoming one of the world’s most efficient and advanced steel producers. The new equipment will enable us to offer products of superior quality and provide exceptional service to our customers, as well as produce the next generation of advanced high strength steels (AHSS) for automotive applications.”

The new PLTCM with its highly sophisticated control systems and cutting-edge operating practices will benefit the environment by significantly reducing air emissions and lubricant waste compared to the existing cold mill.

The equipment for the new mill was supplied by Mitsubishi-Hitachi Metals Machinery. CV Engineering provided the facility design, while Barton Malow Company acted as the construction firm overseeing the project installation.

The launch of the PLTCM is complemented by the construction and impending start-up of a
modern, $285-million hot-dipped galvanizing line in the same production complex in Dearborn. The new coating line will be targeting critically exposed applications for automotive customers and other critical cold roll consuming manufacturers. It is currently nearing completion with a scheduled launch in December of 2011.

Both efforts are part of a $1.1 billion capital improvement initiative that Severstal has undertaken to expand its finishing capabilities to produce a wide range of high quality steel products while being committed to human and environmental well-being and safety.